Design studio Buttress is using 3D building models from Bluesky to create interactive walkthroughs and VR presentations as part of its BIM workflow.
Created from the most up-to-date and accurate aerial photography, the models are used to provide context, giving stakeholders the opportunity to explore a design in its real-world location using QR codes or VR headsets.
Buttress has used the Bluesky models on numerous projects including a pioneering redesign of the Kings Gate at Caernarfon Castle and master planning for the Ancoats area of Manchester. "We use Bluesky models to accurately assess the impact our proposals have on key views," commented Paul Thornborough, BIM Manager at Buttress. "This may be the effect a proposal has on the view of an historic building from across a valley or how a project relates to its immediate neighbours."
Buttress imports the data into its Revit BIM software where it sits alongside architectural drawings or design strategies. Following a degree of post processing, to create realistic and relatable representations, the data is then exported to Buttress's visualisation software to further enhance this realism. The resulting presentations are then shared and accessed by any interested party via mobile devices, using scannable QR codes, or immersible VR experiences.